Working for a major corporation and working for a startup company are two very different experiences. The culture of a startup business requires an employee to have a unique set of skills. Any graduate who finds the idea of an entry level job with a startup company appealing, should be aware of these skills and should try to foster them in order to improve their chances of employability.

Which skills do you require?

So which skills do you actually require if you want to make a great impression on the owners of startup companies in your area?

A pro-active attitude: When you apply for a job at a startup, it is likely that you will be communicating with the person who has founded the company. That person is going to be a self-starter with a proactive attitude, and they will look for employees who share those same qualities. You should be full of ideas of how you can help the startup business, and not just another employee who goes through the motions of their daily work tasks.

A team player: In a startup company, you will most likely be working with a tight group of people who you need to work in harmony with on a daily basis. The startup environment requires colleagues to truly lean on each other for support, and you need to be enough of a supportive team player to be able to contribute positively in this kind of environment.

Flexibility: When you work for a major corporation, you have a very defined role and you stick to that role. With startups, however, employees often carry out multiple work tasks. This can be exciting but also demanding. You need to have a flexible attitude so that you can be useful in many different facets for a startup business.

Start your search for an incredible startup job

Are you looking for an awesome first job with a startup in your area? You should look no further than FirstJob where you can find listings from some of the most exciting startups in the US. Sign up for FirstJob today to start your job search and begin a rewarding career within a startup organization.

Sean Little is the VP of Marketing for FirstJob.com. FirstJob matches current students and recent college graduates with internships and quality career opportunities. Sean also runs FirstJob’s campus ambassador program at campuses across the country, helping students learn marketing topics while connecting them with top brands and job opportunities.